1200 We st Algonquin Road Palatine, Illinois 60067 Kenneth L. Ender, Ph.D. President 847.925.6611 847.925.6034 fax [email protected] President’s Report August 2015 It’s mid-August and finally, the temperatures have reached 90 degrees during the day and 70 degrees at night. Some refer to these times as “the dog days” of summer. I consider this almost as pleasant as Virginia weather! If you are a gardener like me, this is the perfect summer weather. I find myself harvesting tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans, beets, and potatoes daily. Gardeners consider this great fun! Summer is now blending into fall. The College will soon be in starting the fall semester, and the garden will be a pleasant but distant memory! We approach the fall semester concerned about enrollment. Current fall enrollment is down as compared to last year. We are currently down approximately 10%, despite having the same number of applications for admission. We are also experiencing an increase in financial aid applications and packaging. The penetration rate for high school graduates remains very high. However, each senior class continues to be smaller. We also continue to experience enrollment declines in young adult and adult market segments. In part, this can be explained by a rebounding job market. Curriculum alignment that is attractive for adults is also something that is being reviewed. On the positive side, we have seen increased demand for our Fast Track programs; sufficient enough for us to consider opening additional cohorts this fall. While Fast Track still requires students to complete a degree in a little over two years, it is important to note that students are pursuing two to three classes each semester, thus they are considered “part-time.” The unique features of this program are attractive to adults because they outline a path to graduation, and classes in the sequence are guaranteed to run. Students are in cohorts and attend classes on the same weeknight from 6-10 PM until they complete their certificates or degrees. This allows them to plan for child/elder care or adjust work schedules. This type of intentional programming needs to be examined for further application. We end the summer ready to lead our strategic plan through the formal shared governance process. I am convinced that both our completion agenda and enrollment difficulties can be addressed through this plan. The plan calls for much more intentional engagement with our students, and directs us to more robust student onboarding, assessment, and program and career advisement. It will also inform the mapping of specific pathways to degree completion, provide early alerts to students who are in jeopardy, enhance professional development that is aligned with these activities, and provide analytical support as student patterns emerge through data. President’s Report for August 2015 1 Currently, we are very well positioned to serve capable students—particularly students coming from college-educated families. We are not positioned for our changing student body; one that includes greater numbers of first-generation college students. Attending college can be confusing and overwhelming to those who are not familiar with the post-secondary experience. Students choose Harper because they seek a path to a career via a four-year institution—or through an applied associate’s degree. Our new plan, executed with discipline and persistence, will enable more students to identify and achieve their goals. The summer has been very productive with regard to our fundraising and outreach for the Promise Scholarship Program. Soon, we will announce a very large investment by a local family in support of Promise. Over the summer, we have hosted several small gatherings of those positioned to make similar investments. Momentum is growing and we are working hard to reach our fundraising goal. This program is drawing attention nationally. We look forward to welcoming the first Promise Scholars this fall, as they will register for the program in October. In the pages that follow, you will note many accomplishments by our students, faculty, and staff. Harper has accomplished much over the summer. Take a look. Student Success • Harper education student Karenina Thomas is one of two students nationwide who have been awarded the National Scholarship from the National Association of Community College Teacher Education Program. (NACCTEP.) NACCTEP is committed to promoting the community college’s role in the recruitment, preparation, retention, and renewal of early childhood and K-12 teachers and to advocate for quality teacher education programs in community colleges. This is the 2nd year in a row that an education student from Harper College has won the NACCTEP National Scholarship. • During the 2014-2015 academic year, 48 Women’s Program participants completed a certificate or degree at Harper. The Women’s Program served 477 students, which is an all-time high. Completion rates remain strong with 89% completing their courses in the fall and 83% completing their courses in the spring. • The One-Stop Center has seen 2,846 students and their families in-person between May 18 and July 17. The One-Stop team helps both continuing and new students navigate the registration, financial aid and payment processes to ensure students are prepared and make timely decisions to move forward. Additionally, the One-Stop Center, Registrar’s Office and Admissions Outreach are reaching out to 100% of all new students 48 hours before and 48 hours after their orientation appointment to ensure all of their enrollment questions and concerns are answered. • Harper College hosted the Golden Corridor Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Quarterly Meeting on August 4. Over 40 guests attended the breakfast and meeting. Dr. Ender spoke about the Promise Scholarship. Several local partners also participated in the event including Michael Carr, from Oakton Community College, and Patrick Osborne of the Technology and Manufacturing Association. Tours of the Career and Technical Education Center and the site of the new Fabricators and Manufacturers Association Fabrication Lab were also available. President’s Report for August 2015 2 • Through the use of the newly automated Advanced Placement (AP) exam upload program, 2,502 Harper College credits were awarded in a matter of minutes. This came as a result of 385 students submitting 1,102 AP exams following their spring 2015 semester testing. In summers past, the process of evaluating such a large volume of AP credits in an accurate fashion would have taken two weeks. • Accounting Faculty, Lisa Busto and Dominique Svarc, and their students, volunteered for the Ladder Up organization. Ladder Up is a nonprofit organization that trains and deploys more than 1,100 volunteers to offer free financial services to low-income families in and around Chicago. During the 2015 tax season, 27 Harper volunteers returned an estimated $286,770 in tax refunds to hardworking clients through Ladder Up’s Tax Assistance Program. • The Office of Student Financial Assistance informed our students about their financial aid earlier than ever before. Staff has consistently completed the initial processing of files in an extraordinary timeline of less than a week. With the new payment commitment initiative, student awareness of their financial aid is an essential component to getting students registered for classes. • Laura Bennett, Student Conduct Officer, served as a faculty member at the Donald D. Gehring Training Academy, hosted by the Association for Student Conduct Administration. Laura taught courses in the Student Conduct Director Track (designed to teach student conduct administrators how to be a director of a student conduct office) and also taught a day-long seminar on Student Activism, Protests, and Free Speech. • Dr. Joanne Leski, Nursing Professor, participated in an Evaluation Review Panel which is an appointed position by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) Board of Commissioners. Joanne reviewed and presented six programs at this meeting. Following the review, Joanne received a letter from the Chief Executive Officer of the ACEN complimenting her on the dedication and outstanding work she provided. • The Daily Herald and the Chicago Tribune recently featured articles about Studio V and the trunk show series. Studio V is a professional, student-run boutique offering a wide array of student- designed work including jewelry, fashion items, accessories, sculpture, art and original pieces. Community events and public workshops hosted in the retail space allow the classroom to become a part of the community. Facilities Management • The Building D – Phase II project is progressing well and remains on schedule for spring 2016 completion. • The Outdoor Amphitheater and Pedestrian Mall is progressing well and remains on schedule for spring 2016 completion. • Building F Library Renovation Project design work is progressing well and remains on schedule for completion in mid-to-late 2016. Progress reports will be provided to the Board of Trustees at key milestones throughout the design phases. President’s Report for August 2015 3 • The Canning Center and Hospitality projects remain on hold by the State of Illinois. No updates have been provided by the Capital Development Board. • Phase I of the West Campus Infrastructure Project is progressing well and is on schedule for fall 2015 completion. Phase II of this project will not commence until the Canning Center project is released from its current hold. • Landscaping work surrounding the Building D addition, East Campus Parking Structure, and Building H has been completed. • The new outdoor patio area outside the Building D addition has been completed. • Annual sidewalk replacement work throughout campus has been completed. • The Facilities Management service yard asphalt and concrete pavement replacement project behind Building B has been completed. • The new vestibule linking Buildings L and Z together has been completed. • The new bridge from the north campus parking lots has been completed. Landscape restoration is in progress.